Dewstow Gardens and Grottoes

During the late 19th century Dewstow House came into the ownership of Henry Oakley or the Great Western Railway. Outside his work he had two hobbies horse breeding and the growing of ferns, tropical flowers and plants.

In the grounds of Dewstow house, Oakley created a garden comprising rock gardens, water features, ponds with ornamental areas. There were shrubs and trees from all around the world. The gardens were impressive but not in themselves unique.

However, it is the subterranean grottoes and tunnels which set the Dewstow gardens apart and make them unique.

Henry Oakley who died during World War II, had no family, the Dewstow House was sold and the gardens filled in with the land being turned over to agriculture.

Following a change in ownership in 2000 excavation of the grottoes and restoration of the gardens began. Today the gardens are open to the public from early spring to the autumn. Click here for more information: http://www.dewstowgardens.co.uk/home/4561456579